Our Policies

These terms are between you and us. 
1.    DEFINITIONS
1.1    When the following words with capital letters are used in these Terms, this is what they will mean:
Arrival Date:    the date and time on which your Booking will begin and the Property will be made available to you. 
Balance Due Date:     42 days before your Arrival Date.
Booking:    the confirmed reservation of the Property to commence on the Arrival Date and end on the Departure Date.
Booking Confirmation    the written acceptance from us of the Booking Reservation which may include more information such as details around arrival and departure, directions, House Rules, EV Policy etc. If you booked instantly through the website, the Booking Confirmation is the email and PDF invoice you received on our behalf from Freetobook when you clicked and paid.
Booking Deposit (non-refundable):    25% of the Booking Price required when making your Booking Reservation. This is non-refundable.
Booking Price:    as set out on our Website and confirmed in the Booking Confirmation. 
Booking Reservation:    your request to book the Property. 
Business Day:    a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in England when banks in London are open for business. 
Cancellation Administration Fee:    a fee of £75 charged in addition to the Cancellation Charges in accordance with clause 7.
Cancellation Charges:    the scaled cancellation charges deducted from your balance in the event of a cancellation, no show or curtailment of stay.
Contact Details:    the details found on the Contact Us page of our Website and which will be set out in all communication between us and you when in written form.
Curtailment of Stay :   The cutting short of your stay in the property and early departure for whatever reason.
Departure Date:     the date and time on which your Booking will end and you must vacate the Property. 
Electric Vehicle:     any electrically powered vehicle of any type, including cars, vans, minibuses, bicycles, scooters & motorbikes
Events Outside Our Control:     as defined in clause 9. 
Group:    the individuals attending the Property as members of your party and thereby subject to these Terms. 
House Rules:    detailed on our website under our policies and therewith forming part of our contract.
No Show:    failure on your part to take possession of the property on the Arrival Date without cancelling your reservation beforehand.
Permitted Pets:    any dogs attending the Property (other than assistance animals). No other animals are permitted.
Property:    the property provided for holiday letting purposes, details of which have been made available on the Website and includes the outside spaces belonging to the Property.
Terms:    the terms and conditions on which your Booking is supplied to you (also referred to as Booking Terms), being this agreement and any other documentation referred to in this agreement which constitute our overall contract. 
Website:    www.whimsybythepeaks.co.uk together with other websites which may be used by us from time to time.
We/our/us:    Samantha Hinton, 22 the Knoll, Tansley DE4 5FN
You/your:   the individual who makes the Booking Reservation, who must be over the age of 18.

1.2    When we use the words “writing” or “written” in these Terms, this means email and does not include facsimile or any messaging service or platform. 
1.3    Unless the context otherwise requires, words in the singular shall include the plural and vice versa. 
1.4    If any of these Terms conflict with any term contained within the Booking Confirmation, these Terms will take priority. 

2.    OUR CONTRACT WITH YOU
2.1    Please ensure that you read these Terms carefully, and check that the details on the Booking (including the Arrival Date and time, number of guests etc) are complete and accurate before you submit the Booking Reservation. 
2.2    These Terms will become binding between us once we issue you with the Booking Confirmation. 
2.3    Your Booking is accepted only once we issue a Booking Confirmation.
2.4    The maximum number of people who can stay in the Property under the terms of the Booking will be confirmed in the Booking Confirmation. 
2.5    You agree not to arrive at the Property before the Arrival Date and to depart from the Property no later than the Departure Date. The Property will not be available at any time outside of the times reserved by you and set out in the Booking Confirmation and you may be charged if you do not leave by the agreed time on the agreed Departure Date. 
2.6    All illustrations, photographs and other imagery displayed are for illustrative purposes only and décor and layout are subject to change and no warranty or other representation is made as to the quality of the Property by us via the Website. 
2.7    As lead for the Group and the person making the booking, you are liable for the acts and/or omissions of all individuals or animals attending the Property whether permitted by us or not. To make a booking you must be at least 18 years old at the time of booking. 
2.8    The Property is provided for holiday letting purposes only for the specified period, as detailed in your Booking Confirmation. For the avoidance of doubt, these Terms do not create a landlord and tenant relationship between you and us and you will not be entitled to any:
2.8.1    a tenancy;
2.8.2    the right to sub-let the Property in part or in whole;  
2.8.3    an assured shorthold or tenancy (AST); or 
2.8.4    any statutory protection either under the Housing Act 1988 or by way of a statutory security of tenure. 

3.    ENJOYING THE PROPERTY 
3.1    Access to the Property is subject to adherence to these Terms and House Rules, which are given above and form part of these Terms. 
3.2    Your use and enjoyment of the Property must be solely in accordance with these Terms, the House Rules (available at www.whimsycottage.co.uk/policies) and any signage, guidance on use, safety or operational instructions given to you by us. You hereby acknowledge that enjoyment of the Property and grounds is at your own risk. 
3.3   During your Booking at the Property, you shall take proper care of the Property and its contents. You shall report to us any damage, destruction, loss, defect, or disrepair affecting the Property as soon as it comes to your attention, to allow us to investigate and take steps to rectify where deemed necessary. You are legally bound to reimburse us for replacement, repair or extra cleaning costs on demand. If damage occurs to the Property as a result of the actions of you or anyone in your Group during the stay, where the extent of that damage is so severe that the we must (in our sole opinion) cancel and/or refund subsequent bookings, we may bring a claim against you for any loss arising as a result, including the cost of refunding other guests affected by cancelled Bookings and any additional administrative fees incurred in respect of the same.   
3.4    Internet access is offered on the basis that it is provided for recreational use only. Neither a minimum speed, unrestricted bandwidth nor uninterrupted provision of access is guaranteed, and we will not be liable for any form of compensation or expenses claimed by you in respect of the provision or quality of internet connectivity. 
3.5    Any recommendations for third party services, establishments and amenities made by us are our personal recommendations only and do not guarantee any level of service or quality. 
3.6    It is your sole responsibility to ensure that the Property is suitable for you and your Group’s needs ahead of making your Booking Reservation. 
3.7    We reserve the right to request your immediate departure without refund where you have in our sole discretion acted unreasonably, illegally, immorally or in a manner which may impair the enjoyment, comfort or health of other parties or causes, or is likely to cause, damage to the property. 
3.8    We, or an authorised representative or agent acting on our behalf (including but not limited to tradespeople), reserve the right to enter the Property at any time for the purpose of inspection or to carry out any repair deemed necessary to the Property or its contents. 
3.9    All belongings and vehicles are left at the Property at your own risk. Please ensure all of your belongings are removed by the Departure Date as the return of any of your lost property cannot be guaranteed and will incur charges to post to you. 
3.10    There is an electric vehicle charging point (referred to as a DCP) at the Property to be used by electric vehicles only, and in accordance with our Electric Vehicle Policy (see below). 
3.11    Third party providers (e.g. caterers, private chefs, entertainers etc.) are not permitted at the Property without our prior written permission. 

4.    PETS
4.1    Only Permitted Pets or registered assistance animals are permitted to stay in the Property. A maximum of 4 pets are allowed. A maximum of 4 pets are allowed and prior notification, as well as the payment of the pet fee per animal, is required.
4.2    Where animals that are not permitted, or not paid for, but have been brought with you for the Booking, we reserve the right to request immediate departure. 
4.3    We reserve the right to refuse admission or request immediate departure from the Property to anyone who their Permitted Pet is considered to be, in our sole discretion, a nuisance or danger to others. No refund will be due.
4.4    You will be liable for any damage caused by animals or parasites introduced by your Permitted Pets.
4.5    We are not liable for any allergies that are triggered as a result of pets or other animals present in a previous occupancy. 
 

5.    PRICE AND PAYMENT 
5.1    The Booking Price will be based on your Booking Reservation and confirmed in your Booking Confirmation. 
5.2    Where your Booking Reservation is before the Balance Due Date, you must pay a minimum Booking Deposit as notified to you upon submitting the Booking Reservation. This Booking Deposit is non-refundable in the case of a cancellation or no-show. The remaining balance of the Booking Price must be paid by the Balance Due Date. It is your responsibility to make a note of the Balance Due Date and ensure prompt payment. Your Booking is subject to cancellation if the balance payment is not made in time, and Cancellation Charges will apply as per clause 7.3.
5.3    Where your Booking Reservation is made after the Balance Due Date, you must pay the full balance of the Booking Price at the time of making a Booking Reservation. Cancellation charges apply.
5.4    No entry to the Property will be permitted where payment of the full Booking Price has not been made.  

5.5   We regularly review and amend the prices and fees we charge for the Property. For the most up to date and valid pricing information please check our website. We will confirm the price of renting the Property at the time you make your booking and in your booking confirmation,

5.6  All bookings are confirmed when we issue you with your booking confirmation. Your booking confirmation will detail the Property you have booked, the dates of your booking, the number of guests and dogs booked in the Property, the total amount payable for your booking and any Booking Deposit paid. 

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6.    OUR LIABILITY TO YOU

 6.1  We are responsible to you for foreseeable loss and damage caused by us. If we fail to comply with these terms, we are responsible for loss or damage you suffer that is foreseeable as a result of our breach of these terms and conditions or our failure to use reasonable care and skill, but we are not responsible for any loss or damage that is not foreseeable. Loss or damage is foreseeable if either it is obvious that it will happen or if, at the time the contract was made, both we and you knew it might happen, for example, if you discussed it with us during the sales or booking process. For the avoidance of doubt, we are not responsible for any transport and/or alternative accommodation costs.

6.2 We do not exclude or limit in any way our liability to you where it would be unlawful to do so. This includes liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence or the negligence of our employees, agents or subcontractors; for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; for breach of the terms implied by Section 10, 11 and 13 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015. 
6.3  We make the Property available for domestic and private use only. You agree not to use the Property for any commercial, business or re-sale purpose, and we have no liability to you for any loss of profit, loss of business, business interruption, or loss of business opportunity.
6.4    We do not have any responsibility or liability to you (other than as outlined above) for loss of or damage to any of your items, belongings, pets or vehicles, howsoever caused.
 

7.    YOUR RIGHTS TO CANCEL AND APPLICABLE REFUND  (This clause is only applicable to guests who book direct with us, not through 3rd parties like Airbnb or Booking.com)
7.1    We strongly recommend that you take out an appropriate travel insurance policy before placing your Booking Reservation. It is your responsibility to acquire suitable travel insurance for you and your party to cover the booking. and in particular circumstances beyond the your control such as, but not limited to, jury duty, incarceration, death, change in personal or work circumstances, military service, illness – including Covid and shielding, family emergencies, severe weather events and travel delays. If you choose not to take out travel insurance, then you accept responsibility for any loss that you may incur due to your cancellation.
7.2    Cancellations must be notified to us by phone immediately, and in writing by email. Once received in writing we will confirm the cancellation request. The effective date of cancellation is when written email notification is received by us. See clause 7.3 for a breakdown of the cancellation charges. The Cancellation Administration Fee will also be charged on top of the scale of charges below if you cancel your booking after the Balance Due Date. 
7.3    Your liability for the Booking Price is dependent on the Property and period of the notice that you give us, as set out below. The time and date of the cancellation is when we receive written notice from you as per clause 7.2. If you have booked using a non-refundable rate, then your booking is 100% non-refundable in the event of a cancellation for whatever reason, and the scale of cancellation charges does not apply. 
Cancellation notice received on or before the Balance Due Date:    25% (the Booking Deposit)
Cancellation notice received on or between 28 and 42 days:     50% of Booking Price
Cancellation notice received on or between 14 and 27 days:    75% of Booking Price
On or between 0 and 13 days:    100% of Booking Price
7.4    We will confirm your cancellation with you in writing and notify you of any payment or refund due to you at that time. If you have not heard from us within 24 hours of cancelling, you must contact us by telephone.
7.5    If you cancel your Booking, we will try to re–let the Property. This decision is at our discretion. If we are able to re-let the Property, unless you booked a non-refundable rate, we will refund the money paid less our Cancellation Administration Fee and subject to any difference in price between the Booking Price and the re-let price.  
For example:  A 7 night £1000 booking, fully paid, cancelled less than 14 days before arrival, and subsequently relet for 5 nights at £800, means that the you will be refunded as follows, £1000 – £75 Cancellation Admininstration Fee equals £865, – £200 rebooking shortfall, = Refund of £625
7.6    Please note that if you need to cancel because you are ill, including where you are showing symptoms of illness (for the avoidance of doubt this includes Covid19 and/or self-isolating due to any other contagious condition), this will be treated as a cancellation by you.
7.7    If you depart voluntarily or otherwise from the Property before the Departure Date (a Curtailment of Stay), it will be regarded as a cancellation and no refund shall be given. Similarly, if you fail to show for your Booking (a No Show) this will be regarded as a cancellation on the arrival date and will not be refundable. We also reserve the right to re-let the property for the remaining period of your booking. For example: self-isolation or quarantine, performing statutory duties or mandatory obligations (such as jury duty, military service, incarceration), changes in personal or work circumstances, family emergencies, travel delays, vehicle breakdown, and delays with public transport will all be treated as cancellation by you in accordance with this clause.

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8.    OUR RIGHTS TO CANCEL AND APPLICABLE REFUND 
8.1    We may have to cancel a Booking before the Arrival Date of your Booking due to an Event Outside Our Control (see clause 9). We will promptly contact you if this happens. 
8.2    If we have to cancel a Booking under clause 8.1 because it becomes impossible to deliver the booking due to unforeseen events beyond our reasonable control, we’ll do our best to offer you a suitable alternative booking for either the same dates or alternative dates. If you don’t accept the alternative we offer, or cannot provide us with alternative dates when the property is available, the booking will be deemed cancelled and we will refund you the total amount you have paid us for the booking.nd you have made any payment in advance for your Booking , we will refund these amounts to you in full. This will be the limit of our liability. 
8.3    We may cancel your Booking at any time with immediate effect by giving you written notice if you:
8.3.1    do not pay us when you are supposed to; or
8.3.2    breach the contract in any other material way, including but not limited to any of the terms of clauses 3 and 5, or the House Rules.
We shall not be liable for any refund if we cancel the contract under 8.3.

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9.    EVENT OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL
9.1    We will not be responsible for any delay or failure to perform our obligations under these terms and conditions that is caused by an event outside our control.
9.2.  An Event Outside Our Control means any act or event that is beyond our reasonable control, including, without limitation, government prohibition or restriction on all or part of the economy or trade including local lockdowns, severe weather event, drought, fire, explosion, storm, flood, snow and ice, earthquake, subsidence, pandemic, epidemic or other natural disaster, strikes or industrial action by third parties, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack, war or threat of war, civil commotion, riot, invasion, domestic appliance failure, temporary invasion of pests or utilities, failure or interruption or failure of public or private telecommunications networks. 
9.3    In the event of a pandemic, epidemic or restriction of the movement of peoples as dictated by the government or public authority, we reserve the right to issue specific terms at such a time via the Website and will communicate this to you via the contact details provided us. 

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10.    HOW WE MAY USE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
We will use the personal information you provide to us in accordance with our Privacy Policy (available at www.whimsybythepeaks.co.uk/policies).
 

11.    CHANGES TO BOOKING OR TERMS
11.1    We may revise these Terms from time to time.
11.2    If you have already have a booking with us, and we have to revise these Terms under clause 11.1, we will give you at least fourteen (14) days written notice of any changes to these Terms before they take effect, or as much notice as possible where your Arrival Date is less than fourteen (14) days before the date of the change. 
11.3    If you wish to change the dates of your Booking or amend your Booking in any way, please contact us via our Contact Details. We cannot guarantee that your requests will be accommodated and we reserve the right to charge an amendment fee of £75 per amendment. You will need to pay for any differences in price. 
 

12.    OTHER IMPORTANT TERMS 
12.1    We may transfer our rights and obligations under these Terms to another individual or legal entity, but this will not affect your rights or our obligations under these Terms.
12.2    Except for you and us, no other person shall have any rights to enforce any of these Terms.
12.3    Each of the paragraphs of these Terms operates separately. If any court or relevant authority decides that any of them are unlawful, the remaining paragraphs will remain in full force and effect.
12.4    If you fail to perform your obligations under these Terms and we do not enforce our rights against you, this does not mean we have waived our rights against you. If we choose to waive any of our rights under these Terms you will be informed in writing. 
12.5    These Terms are governed by the law of England and Wales. All parties agree to submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts. However, if you are a resident of Northern Ireland you may also bring proceedings in Northern Ireland, and if you are a resident of Scotland, you may also bring proceedings in Scotland.

 

v2 November 2025

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Electrical Vehicle Charging Policy
1.    Definition
1.1    When the following words with capital letters are used in these Terms, this is what they will mean:
Booking: as defined in the Booking Terms and Conditions (see above).
Booking Confirmation: as defined in the Booking Terms and Conditions (see above).
Booking Terms and Conditions:  the terms and conditions on which your Booking is supplied to you. This EV Policy together with the Booking Terms and Conditions, also referred to as the Booking Terms, and the House Rules form the contract between us and you.
Dedicated Charging Point (DCP) : an electrical power source to which an EV can connect to charge. It is not a domestic internal or external three pin socket used for normal electric appliances and devices.
Electric Vehicles (EV) : for the purpose of this policy an EV is any vehicle that uses electric motors, either fully or partially, to drive its wheels. It will derive some or all of its power from rechargeable batteries which requires a connection to the electricity grid (plug-in). This includes fully chargeable and plug-in hybrid cars, motorbikes, buggies, scooters, mopeds, bicycles, utility vehicles and tracked vehicles.   
EV Policy: the terms and conditions on which our electric charging facility is made available for your use, being this policy and any other documentations referred to herein. 
Group: as defined in the Booking Terms and Conditions (see above).
Owner (We/Our/Us) : Samantha Hinton, Whimsy by the Peaks, 22 the Knoll, Tansley DE4 5FN
Owner’s Representatives: representatives of the Owner including but not limited to housekeepers, caretakers and contractors who may visit the Property from time to time on the Owner’s instruction. 
Permitted Visitors : individuals invited to visit the Property by you and/or your Group, with our express permission.
Property: as defined in the Booking Terms and Conditions (see above)
User: individuals who are permitted to use the EV charging facilities in accordance with this EV Policy. 
Website: www.whimsybythepeaks.co.uk 
You/Your : as defined in the Booking Terms and Conditions (see above). 

2.    About this policy
2.1    This EV Policy sets out how EV’s should be charged while at the Property and the responsibilities of Users in respect of safe charging.
2.2    Any reference to Property in this policy includes any garden, grounds, outbuildings, garages or communal spaces at the Property. 
2.3    This EV Policy forms part of your contract with us and is to be read in conjunction with the Booking Terms and Conditions. A breach of the EV policy will constitute a breach of contract.
 
3.    Who does this EV Policy apply to?
This EV Policy applies to all members of the Group and such other Permitted Visitors to the Property. It shall be your responsibility to inform all members of the Group and any Permitted Visitors of this policy and ensure compliance.

4.    Domestic chargers are not permitted at the Property
4.1    Most EVs are supplied with a domestic charger, commonly known as a ‘granny charger’ or a ‘trickle charger’. These cables recharge the EV using a domestic power source via a 3-pin wall socket. 
4.2    Domestic chargers are, under no circumstances, permitted to be used at the Property and will create a fire hazard and may invalidate our property insurance. The use of domestic chargers is strictly forbidden. 
4.3    We, and the Owner’s Representatives, retain the right to carry out reasonable inspection, on a without notice basis, to ensure that granny chargers are not in use in the Property. 
4.4    In the event that you, the Group, or any Permitted Visitor are found to be using a domestic charger (commonly known as a ‘granny charger’ or a ‘trickle charger’) in the Property, despite the strict prohibition as stated in clause 4.2, such action will be considered a serious breach of these terms.
4.5    Upon confirmation of such unauthorised use, the Booking will be subject to immediate cancellation. This cancellation will be enforced without a refund of any amounts previously paid.
4.6    You are solely liable for any damage or loss suffered by us as a result of your, the Group’s or Permitted Visitor’s unauthorised use of domestic chargers.

5.    Dedicated Charging Points (DCPs)
5.1    Details of the Property’s DCPs are set out on the Website and full instructions and safety guidance are available at the Property. It is the user’s sole responsibility to supply a suitable charging cable to use the DCP, unless provided by us (and specified on the Website or in the Booking Confirmation).
5.2    DCPs are exclusively for the use of us, you, the Group and the Owner’s Representatives. Permitted Visitors to the Property who are not part of the Group are not permitted to use the DCP facilities without our express permission.
5.3    Use of the DCPs is subject to a Pay as You Go metered charge as set out on the Voltshare website and payment app. There is a minimum charge amount, as communicated by Voltshare (www.voltshare.co.uk).

5.4    You must not: 
(a)    allow anyone to use a DCP if they are not authorised to do so; 
(b)    allow children under the age of 18 to access the DCP; 
(c)    use any splitting cables or modify the DCP in any way;
(d)    smoke in the vicinity of any DCP; 
(e)    use the DCP for any commercial EV such as a taxi, ridesourcing or ridesharing EV (such as Uber, Lyft or similar services); delivery or transport EVs including buses or for any other commercial venture.

5.5    We do not guarantee the availability of a DCP and unavailability of the DCP shall not constitute a breach of the Booking Terms and Conditions. Information regarding the nearest public charging points will be made available where possible. We do not accept liability for any consequence arising from the failure of the EV to charge. 
5.6    Authorisation for your use of a DCP during the Booking must be obtained prior to Booking in writing by us and will typically be provided in the Booking Confirmation.  We reserve the right to withdraw this authority at any time and for any reason.
5.7    Use of the DCP is at the risk of the User, we do not accept any liability for loss or damage sustained by the user or their EV as a result of using the DCP unless the damage was caused directly by our negligence.